KEY POINTS
- Sindh Chief Minister warns Indus peak flood at Guddu on Sept 9
- Authorities ramp up evacuations, relief, and flood monitoring
- Punjab disaster management authority forecasts further heavy rain; IRSA managing rising river flows
ISLAMABAD: At least five people, including four children, were killed when an overcrowded rescue boat evacuating families from flood-hit villages capsized in the Chenab River near Jalalpur Pirwala in Multan district on Saturday, local officials said. Several others were injured, while more than two dozen people were rescued from the river.
The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Multan Deputy Commissioner’s office told Dawn the dead included a 70-year-old woman and four children, while more than two dozen others were rescued.
The officials blamed overloading and strong currents for the tragedy, adding that stricter safety measures would now be enforced in evacuations.
Sindh Braces for Peak Flood
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah warned in a briefing reported by Business Recorder that the Indus River would witness a peak flow of around 800,000 cusecs at Guddu Barrage on September 9.
He said nearly 324,000 residents may have to relocate, with about 128,000 already evacuated, and more than 900,000 livestock vaccinated ahead of the surge.
Shah stressed that Sindh is better prepared than Punjab but maintained that “all districts must stay on maximum alert.”
National Relief and Evacuation Efforts
The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), in its latest situation update, stated it was working with Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) to expand relief camps, deploy boats, and reinforce embankments across Punjab and Sindh.
According to the NDMA, more than 4.1 million people have been affected in Punjab alone, with over 386,000 evacuated and 1,400 villages inundated.
Weather Warnings and Fresh Rainfall
The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) issued a fresh alert in a weekend advisory that heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected through September 10, particularly in Sindh and southern Punjab, raising the likelihood of flash floods in hill torrents and urban flooding in Karachi, Hyderabad, and coastal districts.
Rising Indus Flows and Monitoring
Meanwhile, the Indus River System Authority (IRSA) confirmed that 217,000 cusecs from Taunsa is heading downstream and expected to swell the Guddu flows, while the Panjnad barrage is preparing for inflows of up to 700,000 cusecs.
The Federal Flood Commission said it was coordinating with provincial irrigation departments to strengthen embankments and monitor katcha areas along the river.
Concerns Over Evacuation Protocols
The Multan tragedy has also raised concerns over evacuation protocols. Rescue 1122 officials said teams were now strictly enforcing boat-loading rules and making life jackets mandatory after the boat incident casualties.
With another flood crest moving southward and fresh rainfall predicted, disaster authorities have warned that the coming week will be “critical for Sindh’s riverine belt.”
